Great Fish River – Grassridge Dam to Cradock

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Host to the annual Fish River Canoe Marathon, this 80km stretch is the second-largest race in South Africa, drawing more than 1500 paddlers each year, surpassed only by the Dusi. The race technically begins on the Great Brak River, which joins the Great Fish at the Brak River Weir halfway through day one. Water levels are assured year-round thanks to the Gariep-Fish transfer scheme, making flat sections a cruise. Rapids are mostly easy, with runnable weirs well known to K1 circles; compulsory-portage weirs are dangerous and must not be attempted. Day one starts on Grassridge Dam with a short paddle to a portage around the dam wall. Willow trees overhang much of the river and must be handled confidently, and several fences with openings span the river. The first obstacle is Collet weir (portage right); directly below it is a natural drop runnable by competent kayakers. The Toastrack low-level bridge follows — take the first or second opening from the right and duck through; current is strong and a K1 can easily wrap. Next comes Keith's Flyover, the biggest rapid of the race, ending in a sizeable hole; portage on the right over the Keith Collet bridge. After easy rapids, portage the Brak River weir on the left and the Prospect bridge on the left, then run Soutpan's weir down the centre chute. Soutpan's rapid, the second-largest on the racing section, is entered through the designated bridge opening; move immediately left or right to avoid a rocky island, then follow the right-hand line. Portage Katkop weir on the right, then pass under Glenalfa bridge through the centre or left-of-centre opening. The final rapid before Knutsford bridge must be run far right. Day two starts at Knutsford bridge and is more open with no major rapids but several serious weirs. Baroda weir is a compulsory portage. Gauging weir is shootable about 2m from the left bank. The Marlow causeway is a compulsory portage, followed by Marlow weir, run straight down the middle of the paddler chute. Cradock weir, the final major obstacle, is the scene of many swims and is easy to portage; those running it typically slide down the point of the V facing left at a 45-degree angle, bracing against the weir wall on descent and on the right at the bottom. The final stretch into Cradock is easy.

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